08.04.2018 Views

113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

3O<br />

many outside <strong>the</strong> pmn<strong>in</strong>aula, shows that <strong>Jaffna</strong> had been subdued<br />

Mgha. Several <strong>of</strong> his Ker4a <strong>and</strong> Dami.a mercenaries were<br />

evidently given l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> pen<strong>in</strong>sula. The reference <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Tamil chronicles to <strong>the</strong> Nalaiyakas or Ker4as may be based on<br />

traditions regard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>se Ker4a soldiers <strong>of</strong> Ngha. The subsequent<br />

P4ya <strong>in</strong>vasions would have added to <strong>the</strong> Tamil element<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> population <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pen<strong>in</strong>sula.<br />

The thirteenth century appears, <strong>the</strong>refore, to have<br />

witnessed a marked <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> occupation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jaffna</strong><br />

pen<strong>in</strong>sula by <strong>Dravidian</strong> settlers, chiefly Tamils. Much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> t<br />

traditions recorded <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tamil chronicles may date back to<br />

<strong>the</strong> thirteenth century. The confused character <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se sources<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r evidence prevent us from gett<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

better picture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> settlements established <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> thirteenth<br />

century. The evidence <strong>of</strong> toponyms, however, suggest that <strong>the</strong><br />

character <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Dravidian</strong> settlement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jaffna</strong> pen<strong>in</strong>sula<br />

was different from that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> major part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vanni districts.<br />

The settlement <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> pen<strong>in</strong>sula appears to have been more peaceful<br />

<strong>and</strong> slower. The vilence that characterised <strong>the</strong> occupation <strong>of</strong><br />

Polonnaruva <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> surround<strong>in</strong>g regions by }1gha' s forces appears<br />

to have been absent <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jaffna</strong> pen<strong>in</strong>sula when Tamila <strong>and</strong><br />

Kera.as occupied it.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!